Nwar history of american railroads books

The earliest of all american railroads dates back to the new jersey railroad company of 1815, chartered by colonel john stevens. It is a large book of 255 pages, with very interesting and detailed text, and profusely illustrated with. Working magic with cornstalks and beanpoles national. This masters thesis covers the major angle of american railroad history and. In 1862, the central pacific and the union pacific railroad companies began building a transcontinental railroad that would link the united states from east to. But thats not the story richard white tells in his new book railroaded. Arcadia publishing local and regional history books. American railroads tells a riveting story about how this iconic industry. Near the end of the twentieth century, after several difficult but. In 1864, the sacramento valley railroad and the central pacific railroad began competing for the ownership of a road from ashland to a point just outside auburn station, which was in the process of being abandoned by the sacramento, placer and nevada railroad. Discover librarianselected research resources on railroad history from the questia. Stover a fascinating account of the rise, decline, and rebirth of railroads in the united states, john f.

The first north american gravity road, as it was called, was erected in 1764 for military purposes at. Milford, oxford university press, for the carnegie endowment for international peace. A short history of the american railways, covering ten decades and with 400 illustrations. This article is part of the history of rail transport by country series. The first known implementation of iron rails occurred at whitehaven, cumberland in 1740, followed by william jessops loughborough, leicestershire. The american indian wars were a centurieslong series of battles, skirmishes and massacres by european settlers against native americans, beginning around 1622. His most recent books are blood, iron, and gold and engines of war. The confederacys lack of such infrastructure was further compounded by its inability to effectively harness the iron horse for military purposes as historian john p. Covers not only the use of the railroad during military operations but also the importance of the line within the military zone. The story of american railroads by stewart hall holbrook. The encyclopedias overarching theme is the evolution of the railroad industry and the historical impact of its progress on the north american continent. A fascinating account of the rise, decline, and rebirth of railroads in the united states, john f. The military railway service was created in the 1920s as a reserve force for the quartermaster division of the united states army.

Civil war railroad books page 4 american civil war forums. In short, i entered the study of american history through the back door. The beginnings of american railroads and mapping history of. The historical guide to north american railroads, 3rd edition trains books.

Start with the checkered history of railroad regulation. Churella finds that back in the 1950s business and economic historians, led by alfred d. The line was ultimately never constructed and while small gravity and mulepowered roads popped up here and there it was the coming of the steam locomotive which changed everything. According to historian mike del vecchios book, railroads across america, the very first railroadlike operation was opened in england during 1630 which used wooden rails, with wooden crossties or sleepers for lateral support, to haul coal. Step right on to main street at any point in history, and be immersed in the wonder and unique flavor of life in your town, or any town in america. The american railroad mania began with the founding of the first passenger.

This book, spanning nearly two centuries, offers an exhilarating tour of the railways inroads into the economy, society, and culture of north america. One of the first railroad wars in old west history was the placer county railroad war in california. Working magic with cornstalks and beanpoles records relating to the u. American railroads in the 1850s 1978 american railroads 2nd ed 1997 good, brief overview. During world war ii, however, when gasoline rationing forced many travelers to abandon their cars, railroads increased their passenger traffic.

But i also got to know about it directly during the research for a number of books i wrote in these years. American railroads the chicago history of american civilization by john f. Troop transfer and the civil war in the west, 1863 by roger. American railroadsis the story of a great industry that dominated us freight transportation. The author, christian wolmar, also provides some background information about railroads in britain early in the book, because steam trains originated in that country.

List of books and articles about railroad history online research. A selfproclaimed lowbrow historian, his topics included ethan allen, the railroads, the timber industry, the wobblies, and eccentrics of the pacific northwest. The nation lacked a uniform integrated system but worked around breaks and different gauges. Once an icon of american industry, railroads fell into a long decline beginning. Everything was by the book, and increasingly complex set of rules told. Everything, audio recordings, booksprinted material, films, videos. To see what your friends thought of this book, please sign up. Wolmar does a fine job of carrying us from the initial development of railways, to their near collapse and. Guide to north american diesel locomotives, author. After the war, railroads tried to maintain their gains through the introduction of airconditioning and lighter, faster, more streamlined cars, built of steel and aluminum. The first actual railroad in arkansas was laid from what is now west. A perfectly fine history of the american railroad as researched and seen.

Stovers american railroads traces their history from the first lines that. Try searching on jstor for other items related to this book. This is the ninth book that wolmar has written about trains of various kinds. On why the story of grenville dodge the civil war veteran and engineer. Volunteers from the union army, led by civilian scout james j. The history of trains in america by christian wolmar, railroads and the american. History of rail transportation in the united states wikipedia. In fact, according to the library of congress civil war desk reference, over 70,000 books have been published on various aspects of the civil war and more are being published.

These early uses of railways gave little hint that a revolution in methods of. Far more books have been written about the civil war than about any other event in american history, and lincolns stack of books towers over that of any other american figure. The northern central railway was one of americas pioneering railroads, serving pennsylvania, new york and baltimore for almost a century. Railroads history united states western, railroads. Division of economics and history, 1928 ocolc578047354 online version. With the war, railroads become both a necessity and an objective. Railroad history, railways, locomotives, entrepreneurs. This book is a second editon, revised and corrected and thirteenth thousand. Stovers american railroads traces their history from the first lines that helped eastern seaports capture western markets to todays newly revitalized industry. A history of christianity, a history o f the jews, modern times.

The great locomotive chase or andrews raid was a military raid that occurred april 12, 1862, in northern georgia during the american civil war. When antislavery candidate abraham lincoln was elected president 1860, the southern states seceded. As the author vividly shows, the erie possessed an uncommonly interesting history. Its history traces back to the precivil war period when trains near or west of the mississippi river remained a relative novelty. The great railroad revolution is a history of trains in the united states from their beginnings to the present day. Illustrated with more than 400 historical and modern photographs and period advertisements, the complete book. By kind permission of harvard university press, we present a chapter from robert gallamores new book, american railroads.

Lavishly illustrated and a joy to read, this authoritative reference work on the north american continents railroads covers the u. The complete book of north american railroading kevin. In 1998, tony horwitzs confederates in the attic changed the way we talk about the civil war and the american south by. Find the top 100 most popular items in amazon books best sellers. The baltimore and ohio in the civil war by festus p. There is no question about the importance of railroads in american history. Discover the best history of railroads in best sellers. White describes how the rail corporations shaped the u. There are over 100 photos and many drawings, but most are too small to pick out a lot of detail.

The american civil war also known by other names was a civil war in the united states from 1861 to 1865, fought between the northern united states loyal to the union and the southern united states that had seceded from the union and formed the confederacy. The great railroad revolution the great railroad war. The rise of the railroads makes for a great, uniquely american story. History of railroads 112 of over 4,000 results for books. He did do a very respectable job in the very early railroad history here and of the civil war period. He wrote for the oregonian for over thirty years, and stewart hall holbrook 1893 1964 was an american lumberjack, writer, and popular historian. Hankey articulately points out in his excellent essay from the march, 2011 issue of trains magazine entitled, the railroad war. By 1860, railroads are a major feature of the american landscape moving goods and passengers between towns. Summers fascinating history of the active role played by the baltimore and ohio railroad during the civil war. This book is a readable and provocative economic and business history of. List of books and articles about railroad history online. Wolmar, a noted historian specializing in the british railway. The year 1827 marked the completion of the united states first railroad and the beginning of a transformation of american life.

Any recommended reading list therefore has to be highly selective and at least somewhat arbitrary. Railroads, the pioneers building americas transportation backbone, and more. Even if you are not interested in model railroading, you will find this book is excellent from a railroad history standpoint,particularly up to and during the civil war. Best books about the civil war a history blog about the. This is a history book, not something you throw on coffee table for visitors to look at.

The men who built the transcontinental railroad 18631869. Dieselization and american railroad, 19201960 by jeffrey w. In the original documentation for the service, all class i railroad companies were to create a battalion for the war. While there are a number of personal stories, some of which were related to the author firsthand, its not a collection of colorful anecdotes from railroad men. The death of an american railroad, this 50year saga of the weary erie goes far beyond describing in brilliant detail the turbulent last decades of a colorful, spunky, and innovative railroad. Penned by local experts, each images of america book weaves the history of a community in stories and rare photos, from its beginnings to today. American civil war, fouryear war 186165 fought between the united states and 11 southern states that seceded to form the confederate states of america. Buy the historical guide to north american railroads trains books 3rd ed. The ten best history books of 2019 history smithsonian. Michael leavys new book, railroads in the civil war. From james mcphersons definitive history to tony horwitzs adventures among obsessives, here are the 11 best books on the civil war in time for the. Ancient monument reveals secrets of history changing battle you can also read about napoleon wars, cold war, world war i, vietnam war, military vehicles, american civil war, and many more topics or just continue to browse everything we have. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. For a book about a railroad that is very near to me.

It arose out of disputes over slavery and states rights. Civil war railroad books american civil war forums. He is the author of records relating to north american railroads reference information paper 91. The chicago, burlington and quincy was one such example. Rebecca beatrice brooks june 22, 2017 may 22, 2019 2 comments on best books about the civil war theres definitely no shortage of books about the american civil war.